Refrigerating apparatus



Oct. 25, 1932. N 1 ,883,944

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed 00 31, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 21 ,(QQ INVENTOR BY f-w,W+ 4 ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1932.

J. G. KING 1,883,944

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 31. 1929 'IIIIIII g J INVENTOR jaw! fi' ATTORNEY ,Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CORPORATION, OF

DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERA'IING APPARATUS Application filed October 31, 1929. Serial No. 403,736.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and especially to a novel form of "evaporator for said refrigerating apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide an evaporator that will operate although subject to tiltin from a normal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for returning oil or any other llquid floating on top of the liquid refrigerant 1o 1n the evaporator to the compressor. a

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide an evaporator with a hollow float therein for controlling the valve for regulating the flow of liq'uid refrigerant therein by a vertical movement and to have a depression on the top of said float for collect ing oil on the surface of said liquid refrigerant and providing means associated therewith for returning the oil and vaporized gas to the evaporator.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a cross section through a preferred form of the invention as embodied in an evaporator;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View of a system in which the evaporator has been installed;

Fig. 4 is an exterior side view of the preferred evaporator, and

Fig. 5 is a portion of Fig. l disclosing oil flowing over the upper surface of the float.

One of the problems in connection with a refrigerating apparatus especially where such apparatus is installed on ships or in other places subject to tilting is the fact that such refrigerating apparatus is generally designed for operation in a stationary cabinet and that such tilting gene-rally disturbs the apparatus so that it will not operate properly. Accordingly this invention contemplates a symmetrical float that will not be disturbed by such tilting. Furthermore, the invention contemplates having the valve controlled by the float at the center of the float so that tilting of the apparatus will not adversely affeet the operation.

It is furthermore desired to have the oil and suction line return closely associated with the top of the float and in fact to provide means on the float itself preferably in the form of a depression on its top wall for collecting the oil for return to the compressor. This has necessitated making the float of a nonsinkable type so that if a large quantity of liquid is spilled over into the depression, the float will not sink to a point where the evaporator will be flooded with liquid refrigerant and cause an overload on the motor.

In Fig. 1 is disclosed a preferred type of evaporator. As so disclosed it preferably embodies a valve plate 10. having located thereon the inlet valve port 11 and outlet valve port 12. A depending casing 13 pro vides space for a considerable amount of liquid refrigerant such as sulphur dioxide and has preferably projecting into its lower portion one or more compartments 14 for the reception of the ice trays 15. The valve plate 10 is removably secured, in any suitable mannor, to the casing 13 thereby sealing an opening in the upper part thereof, in order to render the evaporator gas tight, and to permit the removal of a float valve mechanism described hereinafter.

In the upper portion thereof is located the hollow float member 16 that will float on the liquid refrigerant and which will not be affected appreciably by the oil. This float member 16 is preferably symmetrical about its center axis and is preferably formed of a cylindrical portion with a depressed upper cover 17. The float has a central hole 18 through its vertical axis and also has an upstanding central cylindrical wall 33 to retain any liquid in the depressed cover 17. This float is slidably mounted upon a supporting member 19 which in turn is screwed on to a projecting member 20 extending from the valve plate. This member 20 has an inlet opening 22 therethrough for the liquid refrigerant.

In the member 20 at the central axis thereof is a needle valve 24 adapted to close the 100 restricted opening 26 of the inlet passage of liquid refrigerant. A member 25 preferably in the form of a bar, extends across the lower ortion of the central opening of. the float or operation of the needle valve by pressing against its lower end. The supporting memp ber has the downwardly extendin circular passageway 30 for deflecting liqui refrigerant from the restricted opening to the clearance space between the member 20 and the inner wall 27 of the float surrounding the central hole.

If for any reason access to the valve 24 or its seat, located at the end of the restricted openin 26, is desirable or necessary such access can%)e had by removing the plate 10 from the casing 13 and unscrewing the projecting member 20 from the valvesupportin member 19. During the unscrewing operation of the member 20 supporting member 19 should be revented from rotating so that it will also disengage from the member 20. Any suitable tool which will span the cross bar 25 and grip the member 19 can be used for maintaining the member 19 stationary while performing the unscrewing oper-- ation of member 20. After performing the foregoing mentioned operation it is obvious that the needle valve 24 can be removed from within the member 19 for repairs or replacement. The valve seat at the end of the restricted opening 26 is also then accessible for refacing or cleaning as desired. Thus, I have provided a novelvertically operating float valve assembly which may be readily disassembled for repairs or inspection. It is to be understood that when it is desired to remove the float valve assembly it is first necessary to remove all refrigerant from the evaporator. This can be accomplished by providing shut-off valves, well known to the art, at the refrigerant inlet connection 11 and at the outlet connection 12.

After the liquid refrigerant 29 sufficiently fills the evaporator to the desired height 31, the float has arisen to a position such that the cross bar has pressed against the lower portion of the needle and closed the restricted opening thus preventing more liquid refrigerant from entering the evaporator. A tube 32 preferably depends from the valve plate at the outlet port thereof and preferably curves downward adjacent to the lower piurved portion in the depressed cover of the oat.

Refrigerant gas as it evaporates of course accumulates on the top portion of the evaporator and by the suction from the compressor is drawn up through the tube and to the return conduit. It'will be notedthat as the opening between the tube and the top of the cover is small the velocity of the return gas at this point will be very high. As the evaporator performs its cooling operation by absorbing heat and passing it to the liquid re be reduced to 9 inches of mercury,

frigerant 29 the liquid refrigerant will boil and this boiling will cause the oil 30 which has been carried along with the liquid refrigerant from the compressor to splash over into the top of the float to accumulate on the lower ortion thereof surrounding the central hole. This oil will naturally begin to accumulate to a level above the lowest point of the tube and as the gas is passing very rapidly through this tube to return to the compressor, the oil will be carried along by means of this suction.

Furthermore, when the sulphur dioxide enters the evaporator, it is under pressure and is suddenly plunged into the low pressure side of the system in the evaporator. The change in pressure causes the refrigerant to be above its boiling point and to boil violently until it reaches a temperature corresponding with its reduced pressure. For example if the liquid refrigerant enters the evaporator at 28 F. under 5 lbs. gauge pressure and must itwill be above its boiling point and will boil and reduce its temperature below its boiling point, probably reaching a temperature of 0 F. in settling to its level in Fig. 1. In Fig. 5 is disclosed the liquid refrigerant 29 as it is eX- panded when suddenly plunged into the low pressure of the evaporator and before it reduces its temperature and settles to its normal level. When so expanded it raises the level of the oil 30 above the depressed top cover of the float and the oil overflows into the central depressed portion where it is in position to be sucked up with the gas drawn through the tube 82 while the compressor is operating. This expansion and settling takes a very short tim but it is sufficient to put the excess oil on top of the float. If any liquid refrigerant spills over on the top of the float it will sink to the bottom of the oil there and will have a chance to evaporate. Accordingly the invention contemplates a very suitable means for'returning oil to the compressor in conjunction with the return of the evaporated refrigerant gas.

It will be noted that as the float operates a centrally located needle by vertical movement that a tilting of the apparatus to one side or the other will not seriously disturb the op eration of the device. In fact it would take a considerable tilting operation to flood the up per cover portion of the float and even then the float would not sink to a position to overload the motor due to the buoyancy of its hollow portion. The evaporator will accordingly not be seriously disturbed by any variation wi h'n an approximate included angle of 45. In-case any liquid refrigerant would splash into the upper cover it'would have opportunity to evaporate.

In Fig. 3 is diagrammatically disclosed a system in which the evaporator may be installed. As so disclosed it preferably embodies a compressor 40 for withdrawing the refrigerant gas from the evaporator by suction through the return conduit 41 and upon compressing the same to forward it under pressure to the condenser 42 where it is liquefied and deposited in the receiver 43. When required by the evaporator the refrigerant is then forwarded to the evaporator through the liquid supply conduit 44. The compressor is preferably operated by a motor 45 of any suitable construction. A pressure temperature responsive means i6 preferably of the bellows type is preferably connected in the suction line return for controlling the running of the motor and compressor by operating the snap switch 47 in response to temperature conditions within the evaporator as is well understood. The connection of 46 in the suction line return is purely diagrammatic as in actual practise it would be connected so that there was no possibility of trapping oil therein.

It is obvious that the invention can be applied to remove other liquids not desired in the evaporator or expander.

Accordingly therehas been disclosed a very efficient type of evaporator which will not be violently disturbed in its operation by any modern tilting such as would be experienced on board ships at sea. Furthermore, the structure of the evaporator takes up very little horizontal room with the accordingly increase in storage space within any suitable cabinet structure. Furthermore, the depressed portion of the float allows means for suitably returning the oil from the evaporator to the compressor where it is needed.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form. it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An evaporator adapted to contain liquid refrigerant, a valve regulating the admission of said liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, a-non-sinkable float in said evaporator for controlling said valve, means forming a part of said float for collecting liquid floating on said liquid refrigerant, and means associated with said last mentioned means for providing egress of said floating liquid from said evaporator.

2. An evaporator adapted to contain liquid refrigerant. a valve regulating the admission of said liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, a hollow non-sinltable float in said evapora tor for controlling said valve, means forming a part of said float for collecting liquid floating on said liquid refrigerant. and means associated with said last mentioned means for providingegress of said floating liquid from said evaporator.

3. An evaporator adapted to contain liquid refrigerant, a valve regulating the admission of said liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, a hollow non-sinkable float in said evaporator for controlling said valve, said float having a depression thereon for collecting liquid floating on said liquid refrigerant. and means associated with said last mentioned means for providing egress of said floating liquid from said evaporator.

at. A11 evaporator adapted to contain liquid refrigerant, a valve regulating the ingress of liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, a float in said evaporator for controlling said valve, said float having a saucer-like depression formed in its top wall for collecting liquid floating on said liquid refrigerant, and means associated with said saucer-like depression in said float for providing egress of said floating liquid from said evaporator.

5. An evaporator adaped to contain a liquid refrigerant, a detachable wall portion for closing an opening in said evaporator, a liquid refrigerant inlet and a gaseous refrigerant outlet provided in said detachable wall portion, a valve regulating the ingress of liquid refrigerant through said inlet to said evaporator, a non-sinkable float in said evaporator carried by said detachable wall portion for controlling said valve, said float havin a depression formed in its top wall for collecting liquid floating on said liquid refrig erant, and a conduit connected to said gaseous refrigerant outlet of the evaporator and associated with said depression for providing egress of said floating liquid from the evaporator.

6. An evaporator adapted to contain a liquid refrigerant, a detachable wall portion for closing an opening in said evaporator, a liquid refrigerant inlet and a gaseous refrigerant outlet provided in said detachable wall portion, a valve regulating the ingress of liquid refrigerant through said inlet to said evaporator, a non-sinkable float in said evaporator carried by said detachable wall portion for controllingsaid valve, the wall of said float having a depression therein for collecting liquid floating on said liquid refrigerant, and means for providing egress of said floating liquid from the evaporator through the gaseous refrigrant outlet thereof.

7. An evaporator adapted to contain a liquid refrigrenat, a detachable Wall portion for closing an opening in said evaporator, a liquid refrigerant inlet and a. gaseous refrigerant outlet provided in said detachable wall portion, a valve regulating the ingress of liquid refrigerant through said inle t to said evaporator, a non-sinkable float in said evaporator carried by said detachable wall portion for controlling said valve, said float having a saucer-like depression formed in its top wall for collecting liquid floating on said liquid refrigerant, and aconduit communicating with the gaseous refrigerant outlet of the evaporator for providing egress of said floating liquid from the evaporator, said conduit having its inlet end disposed adjacent the maximum depth of said depression.

8. An evaporator adapted to contain a liquid refrigerant, a detachable top Wall portion for closing an opening in said evaporator; a liquid refrigerant inlet and a gaseous refrigerant outlet provided in said detachable top Wall portion, a vertically operated valve regulating the ingress of liquid refrigerant through said inlet to said evaporator, a nonsinkable float in said evaporator carried by said detachable wall portion for controlling said valve, said float having a depression in its top Wall for collecting liquid floating on said liquid refrigerant, and a conduit communicating with the gaseous refrigerant outlet of the evaporator for providing egress of said floating liquid from the evaporator, said conduit having its inlet end extending into the depression in'the top of said float and disposed adjacent the maximum depth of said depression.

In testimony whereof 1 hereto afiix my signature.

JESSEG. Kiss. 

